The Democratic Party's Public Communication Committee (False Information Monitoring Team) clarified regarding the KakaoTalk censorship controversy that "we do not have the authority to infringe on privacy." The Democratic Party criticized the People Power Party, which strongly opposed the issue, as being the source of fake news.
Democratic Party Lawmakers Holding a Press Conference to Accuse the People Power Party's 'Real News Discovery Team' Photo by Yonhap News
On the 13th, Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Moon-seok said at a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, "The Democratic Party announced that if fake news spreading in KakaoTalk group chats and social networking services (SNS) violates the law, we will file complaints, but the People Power Party strongly opposed this, claiming it was KakaoTalk censorship," adding, "Judging by the People Power Party's reaction, it seems they are admitting to being the source of fake news."
Lawmaker Yang explained, "The Democratic Party neither has the authority nor the intention to look into individual KakaoTalk chat rooms or infringe on privacy," and clarified, "(The Democratic Police Station) is no different from the fake news reporting center established by the Saenuri Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, which responded to false distorted reports and rumors in the past."
Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi also compared the People Power Party to the German Nazis and Joseph Goebbels. He said, "The People Power Party is said to be recruiting defendants for charges of inciting rebellion. It reminds me of the Nazi Party and Goebbels," adding, "Acts of inciting rebellion are openly taking place in KakaoTalk group chats, and it is not something that can be left unattended."
The Democratic Party also announced that it is considering legal measures against so-called 'targeting' acts such as news comments. Lawmaker Jeon said regarding the organized posting of comments through Telegram, SNS, etc., "We are reviewing the application of obstruction of business charges," and added, "YouTubers protecting President Yoon Seok-yeol are engaging in actions that do not help democracy. We will point out each one."
The Democratic Party plans to continue to strongly respond to fake news and related issues. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Hyun said, "On the 10th, the Public Communication Committee filed complaints against People Power Party lawmaker Lee Sang-hwi, who spread false information, and the media outlet that reported the content for defamation by spreading false facts," adding, "We will strongly confront forces that seek political gain through distortion and lies."
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